world heritage site 1 - national geographic society · on the unesco “list of world heritage in...
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World Heritage Site 1
World Heritage Site 2
These falls lie on the border of two countries in South America and extend over 2,700 meters (8,858 feet) wide. The huge sprays of mist from the 80 meter (262 feet) high fall sustain the lush vegetation and surrounding rain forest all around it.
This lake in Asia holds the impressive honor of being the deepest lake at 1,642 meters in depth (5,387 feet)as well as the oldest lake (25 million years old) in the world. Around half of the thousands of species of plants and animals there are not found anywhere else on the planet.
Photograph by Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz
Photograph by Andrezej Barabasz
World Heritage Site 3
World Heritage Site 4
This site is the world’s first national park and a haven for endangered animals, including grizzly bears, gray wolves, and bobcats. It holds over half of the world’s geothermal features, including two-thirds of all the world’s geysers.
This site, which is also on the UNESCO “List of World Heritage in Danger,” contains the largest mangrove ecosystem in the western hemisphere, and the most significant breeding ground for wading birds in North America. Sometimes called a “river of grass” this subtropical area has an incredible variety of water habitats that make it a vital and fragile ecosystem for humans, plants, and animals alike.
Photograph by Mark Thiessen
Photograph courtesy National Park Service
World Heritage Site 5
World Heritage Site 6
This site is managed by both the national government of this southern hemisphere country and the native people who have lived there for thousands of years. Tidal plains, lowlands, plateaus, floodplains, rare species and ancient archaeological areas characterize this diverse site.
This huge canal was constructed in the early 19th century for military purposes, but has been one of the few canals from that period to survive and remain operational. Covering 202 kilometers (125 miles) of river, this monumental feat of engineering was pivotal in the development of the capital city of the large, northern country that grew around it.
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Photograph courtesy of Winfield Parks
World Heritage Site 7
World Heritage Site 8
This site, known for its spectacular gorges and mighty river, can show the passing of history through the lines of the canyon walls. Layers of rock carved by the river winding through it reveal two billion years of geologic history.
This site is well-known for its network of canals used for transportation and has been a major maritime power throughout its history. It is also known for being the patron city for many of the world’s most famous artists. It is now at serious risk, however, from climate change and rising sea levels.
Photograph by Doug Vavrick
Photograph by Brian Pereira
World Heritage Site 9
World Heritage Site 10
This site is home to the highest mountain peak in the world. Unique ecosystems and rare animal species found here face pressure from a changing climate as well as human populations in the area that rely on the consistent flow of freshwater from the region’s glaciers for drinking, farming, and more.
These massive waterfalls are located on the border of two African countries. The native name for the falls translates to “Smoke that Thunders.” The mist from these thundering river features can be seen from over 20 kilometers (12 miles) away.
Photograph by Sergey Mankevich
Photograph by Petr Cunderlik
World Heritage Site 11
World Heritage Site 12
This vast expanse of land, known as the “Endless Plain” by the local Maasai people, is home to some of the most famous animal predators in the wild world including lions, leopards, and crocodiles.
This ancient site is one of the most curious places in Europe, as very little is known about who built it or what it was used for. Scientists do know that construction began 5,000 years ago and that the stones are aligned almost perfectly with the sunrise on the summer solstice.
Photograph by Chen Elnekave
Photograph by Daveahern, Wikimedia Commons
World Heritage Site 13
World Heritage Site 14
This national park on an island in the Pacific Ocean is home to two of the world’s most active volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kilauea. The climate here ranges from rain forest to desert, providing ideal conditions to study the ever changing geological landscape, and unique natural phenomenon such as the giant fern forests.
Located just north of the Niger River, this city has a long history as a trading outpost. An important site on the trans-Sahara trade route, merchants traveled across the desert by camel to exchange salt for gold and vice versa.
Photograph courtesy U.S. Geological Survey
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World Heritage Site 15
World Heritage Site 16
The National Geographic Society sponsored the first expedition to this forgotten city in the Andes, and the world first saw photos of the discovery in the April 1913 issue of National Geographic Magazine. The ancient Incan city is an important site for studying the ancient empire as well as diverse flora and fauna.
This natural marvel can be seen from outer space and is the world’s biggest single structure made by living organisms—coral! A biological hotspot, it is home to over 2,000 species of fish, coral, birds, and reptiles. The reef is under threat of climate change including rising air and water temperatures, which can result in a process known as coral bleaching. Overfishing has also led to an overabundance of coral’s predators.
Photograph by Naterima, Wikimedia Commons
Satellite image courtesy NASA
World Heritage Site 17
World Heritage Site 18
This architectural wonder was built in the 12th century as a king’s temple. It was originally used as a place for worship for Hindus, but is now a Buddhist center. The park that this temple resides in contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century.
Contrary to popular belief, you cannot see this “great” architectural wonder from space, even though it does stretch for over 8,850 kilometers (5,499 miles) across the East Asian landscape.
Photograph by Sam Garza, Wikimedia Commons
Phtograph by Lance McMillan, MyShot
World Heritage Site 19
World Heritage Site 20
This entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, best known for its massive walls surrounding the entire Old Town. The city rivaled Venice as a successful Mediterranean port in the Middle Ages and was almost destroyed by an earthquake in 1667.
The site is one of the most recognized places in the entire world, but its proper title is lesser known, named for the ancient capital city and the surrounding funeral monuments such as the Great Sphinx, pyramids, and royal tombs.
ID# And Name of Site
1. Iguazu Falls
2. Lake Baikal
3. Yellowstone National Park
4. Everglades National Park
5. Kakadu National park
6. Rideau Canal
7. Grand Canyon National Park
8. Venice and its Lagoon
9. Sagarmatha National park
10. Victoria Falls
11. Serengeti National Park
12. Stonehenge, Avebury, and Associated Sites
13. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
14. Timbuktu
15. Machu Picchu
16. Great Barrier Reef
17. Angkor
18. Great Wall of China
19. Dubrovnik
20. Memphis and its Necropolis
Latitude/Longitude
25° S, 54° W
53° N, 107° E
44° N, 110° W
25° N, 80° W
12° S, 132° E
44° N, 75° W
36° N, 112° W
45° N, 12° E
27° N, 86° E
17° S, 25° E
2° S, 34° E
51° N, 1° W
19° N, 155° W
16° N, 3° W
18° S, 147° E
13° S, 72° W
13° N, 103° E
40° N, 116° E
42° N, 18° E
30° N, 31° E
Site 1Iguazu Falls
25° S, 54° W
Site 3Yellowstone National Park
44° N, 110° W
Site 5Kakadu National park
12° S, 132° E
Site 4Everglades National Park
25° N, 80° W
Site 6Rideau Canal
44° N, 75° W
Site 7Grand Canyon National Park
36° N, 112° W
Site 9Sagarmatha National park
27° N, 86° E
Site 11Serengeti National Park
2° S, 34° E
Site 8Venice and its Lagoon
45° N, 12° E
Site 10Victoria Falls
17° S, 25° E
Site 12Stonehenge, Avebury., and Associated Sites44° N, 110° W
Avery 6879
Site 2Lake Baikal
53° N, 107° E
Site 13Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
19° N, 155° W
Site 15Machu Picchu
13° S, 72° W
Site 17Angkor
13° N, 103° E
Site 16Great Barrier Reef
18° S, 147° E
Site 18Great Wall of China
40° N, 116° E
Site 19Dubrovnik
42° N, 18° E
Site 20Memphis and its Necropolis
30° N, 31° E
Avery 6879
Site 14Timbuktu
16° N, 3° W